HALFTIME: SU 44, Providence 27

By Chris Wagner

March 02, 2009, 7:46PM

The Syracuse women's basketball team, playing its final regular-season game of the season, has shown the firepower that was expected all year, jumping out to a 44-27 lead at halftime over Providence in the Carrier Dome.

SU broke open a 6-6 game by going on a 27-10 run from the 17:19 mark to the 7:54 mark. It was capped by a 15-foot jumper by Juanita Ward.

Providence then closed the gap to 12 points twice before SU ended the half on a jumper by Nicole Michael and a buzzer-beater by Chandrea Jones, who let the clock wind down before launching a sweet 16-footer as the clock expired.

Michael and Erica Morrow each have 11 points for SU, followed by Jones with 8 and Vionca Murray with 7. The Orange has made 47.4 percent of its attempts on 18-of-38 shooting, including making 5-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Providence is shooting nearly 42 percent (13-of-31) and is led by guard Chelsea Marandola with 12 points.